Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-06-25

persplration streamed from his face. Ho
was a bold man enough in O general way,
but this was too much for his nerves.
at is my mothers voice, it is her very
words!" he called out aloud, and then, DASH
ing his spurs into his horses TANKS. he went
like q flash away from the accused spot; nor
did he draw rein till no came to his W
place, ten miles away. Twice the horse fell
in the darkness. for there was no moon, the
second time throwing him heavily, but he
only dragged it up with a curse, and, spring
ing into the saddle again, fled on as before.
Thus did the man who did not hesitate to
plot and to execute the cruel slaughter of UNI
offending men cover beneath the fancied echo
of a dead woman's voice! Truly human na-
ture is full Of contradictions.
When the thunder of the horses hoofs grew
faint Jantje emerged from one of his hiding
places, and, throwing himself down in tho
center Of the Alsty road, kicked md rolled
with delight, shaking all tho while with an
inward joy that his habits of caution would
not permit him to give audible vent to. "His
mothers voice, his mothers words, !" he quoted
to himself. "How should he know that Jantje
remembers the old woman's voice-ay, and
the words that tho devil in her spoke tool
Hee! Hee! Hee!'
Bessie fled without stopping till she reached
the orange trees in front of the veranda,
where, reassured by the lights from the win
dows, she paused to consider. Not that she
was troubled by J%antjo's mysterious bowling:
indeed, she was too preoccupied to give it a
second thought. What she was debating was
whether she should say anything about her
encounter with Frank Muller. After pausing
for a fcw seconds to pick II branch of orange
blossom md to become herself generally,
which, not being Historically inclined, she
very soon did, she quietly entered the house
as though nothing had happened. The very
first person she met was John himself, who
had come in by tho back way. He laughed
at her orange blossom bouquet, and said that
it was most appropriate, and then proceeded
to embrace her tendcrly in the passage; and
indeed he would have been u poor sort Of
lover if he had not. 1t was exactly at this
j%uncturo that old Silas Croft happened to
open the sitting room door and CONT full upon
this tender and attractive tableau.
"Well, l nevcr!' said the old gentleman.
"VVhat is the meaning of all this, Bessies"
or course there was nothing for it but to
cone in and explain the facts of tho case,
which John did with much hrmming and
ha-ing and a general awkwardncss Of manner
that battles description, while Bessie stood by,
her hnnd upon her lovers shoulder, blushing
as red us any rose.
The old man listened in silence till John
had finished-a smilo upon his face and a
kindly twinkle IN his keen eyes.
49," ho said, "that is what you young
people have been after, is it! | suppose that
you want TO enlarge your interests in the
farm, eli, joint Well, upon my word, l don't
blame you; you might have gone farther and
Jared worse. These sort of things never come
singly, it seems. 1 had another request for
your hand, my dear, only this afternoon from
that scoundrel Frank Muller, OF all men in
the world" md his face darkened as he said
the name. 81 sent him off with u flea in his
ear, l can tell you. Had l known then what
| know now | should have referred him to
John. There, there! He is u bad man and u
dangerous man, but let him I've. He is taking
plenty Of rope and he will hang himself ono
of these days. Well, my dears, this is tho
best bit of new that l have heard for many
a long day. 1t is time you got married, both
OF you, for it is not right for man to 1.-Two
alone, Or woman either. l nave lone it all
my life, and that is the conclusion I have
come to after thinking the matter over some
where about fifty years. Yes, you nave my
SoAoSiO oiiO NY OleSoiHS, w. uAu you Will
have something more one day before SO very
long. Take her, John, take her. I have led
a rough life, but l have seen something Of
women for oil Of that, and l tell you that
there is not q sweeter or q better or a prettier
woman in south Africa than Bessie Croft,
and in wanting to marry her you have shown
your sense. Cox bless you both, my dears.
And now, Bessie, come and give your old
uncle a kiss. hope that you won't let John
quite drive mo out Of your head; that's all.
For you see, my dear. having no children of
my own, I have managed to get very fond Of
you in the last twelve years or so."
Bessie came and kissed the old lnan,ten-
derby.
"No, UNCLE" sho said, "ncither John nor
anybody nor anything i'll the world can do
that, and it was evident from her manner
that she meant what she said. Bessie had a
large heart, and was not at all the person to
let her lover drive her uncle and bcnefactor
out of his share of it.